Gate-controlling device.



W. S. HICKENBOTHAM.

GATE CONTROLLING DEVICE.

APPLICATION man sEPr.22.1915.

1,169,643.. Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

THE COLUMNA PLANQGRAPH Co..'WAsHlNrTON. DA c.

WALTER STUART HICKENBOTHAIVI, OF CHELTENHAIVI, VICTORIA, AITSTRALIA.

GATE-CONTROLLING DEVICE.

Application led September 22, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VALTER STUART HICKENBOTHAM, a subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, and a resident of the post-town of Cheltenham, in the shire of l\Ioorabbin,-ecounty of Bourke, State of Victoria, Commonwealth of Australia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements Relating to Crate-Controlling Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to gates 0f the kind that are so hung as to be self closing unless retained open, or which are provided with closing apparatus or devices in order that a gate will be closed when in its normal position. The term gate to mean and include any device for closing an opening or passageway.

I-Iitherto it has been a common practice to provide a catch or the like to retain a self closing gate open w'hen swung to a predetermined position, such catch or the like, however, requiring manual operation before the gate could close. In field or farm gates, which are often capableof being opened from a distance, it is very inconvenient for persons riding or driving to be required to stop after passing through a gateway in order to close the gate. Should a person neglect to close an open self-closing gate considerable inconvenience is liable to result. This is particularly the case where cattle and other animals are liable to stray.

The object of this invention is 'toprovide for the retention of a self-closing gate in an open position for a predetermined period and for the releasing of the gate upon the termination of the said period. The` advantages of a gate which automatically closes after allowing persons to ride or drive through will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art.

The invention not only saves time by dispensing with the necessity of closing a gate but is comparatively cheap in first cost, simple in construction, consists of but few parts none of which are liable to derangement, and may be fitted withfacility to either old or new gates.

Referring to the drawings which form a part of this specification. Figure 1 is a part sectional View of the invention, the elements thereof beingl in their normal position ready to receive the gate when opened.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1916.

serial No. 52,044.

In broken lines a gate is shown being retained open. Fig. 2 is a sectional end view of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of an open self-closing gate equipped with the invention.

The invention is used in conjunction with a self-closing gate 2 which in any well known way is so equipped or is so suspended to a liinging post 3 or the like that it will always swing closed unless retained open. Various spring, hinging and other means are well known for this purpose. Opposite the hinging post 3 is a closing post 4f or the like. At one or both sides of the hinging post 3 is a holding back post 5. The invention is not restricted to the gate described and, as will be hereinafter clearly understood, may be applied to any gate which is of a self-closing nature.

The invention includes a casing 6 carried by the holding back post 5. Projecting outwardly through an opening in the casing 6 is a slide bar 7 having a depending outer end S. The slide bai' passes between first rollers 9 mounted in a first guide 10 carried by the said casing 6. Carried or integral with the slide bar 7 is a rack having teeth 11. One end of the rack may form a first limit stop 12, the other end forming a sec-- ond limit stop 13. The rack, slide bar 7 or an extension thereof is provided with an inclined disengaging surface 14. The inner end 15 of the said slide bar 7 passes between second rollers 16 mounted in a second guide 17 carried by the said casing 6.

Pivoted in the second guide 17, by a pivot pin 18, isthe inner end 19 of a catch lever 20. Carried by the catch lever 20 is a roller 21 engaging the surface 14'. The outer end of the catch lever 20 projects outwardly through the opening in the casing 6. Depending from the outer end of the catch lever 20 is a suitable catch 22.

Engaged by the teeth 11 of the rack of the slide bar 7 is a first toothed wheel 23 mounted upon va first shaft 211. The first shaft 24 is suitably mounted in the casing 6. Secured to the first Shaft 241 or the toothed wheel 23 thereof is a ratchet disk 25 having formed therein a pawl recess 26. Engaging in the pawl recess 26 is one end of a pawl 27 the other end of which is pivoted to a pivot pin 28 carried by a second toothed wheel 29. The said toothed wheel 29 is loosely mounted on the first shaft 24. Carried by the 'second toothediwheel 29 and engaging the pawl 27 is a suitable spring 30.

Secured to the first shaft 24 is the inner end of a ycoiled tape spring 31, the outer end of which is secured to a .spring casing The casing 32 is fixed to a bridge 33 which is secured to studs carried bythe Abase plate of the casing 6. One'end of the first shaft 24 bears in the said bridge33.v

Engaging the second toothed wheel 29 is a third toothed wheel 34 mounted upon a second shaft 35. The second shaft 35 is mounted with one end journaled in the casing 6, and the other end having a bearing in ythe bridge 33. Secured to the second shaft `at each end a slidable adjusting weight 41.

The arm and weights form a governor for regulating the escapenient of the spring 31.

With this invention when a gate is opened andswung back to its holding back post 5 the upper bar or other portion of the gate 2 encounters the depending outer end 3 of the slide bar 7 The slide bar moves inwardly kinto the casing 6. As the bar moves inwardly the rack thereof rotates the iirst toothed wheelA 23 thereby rotating the first shaft 24 and winding the coiled spring 31. The spring acts'` as ak buffer. Thesecond limit stop 13 determines the travel of the bar by engagement with the second guide 17.' When the bar has moved a predetermined distance into the casing the ratchet disk 25, which rotates with the first shaft 24, will have made a complete revolution and the pawl 27 will bein engagement with the pawl recess 26'. During the rotation of the first shaft 24 the second toothed wheel 29 is Y to close the gate. rlhe coiled spring 31 now commences to unwind thereby rotating the first shaft 24 in the opposite direction. As the shaft rotatesthe first toothed wheel 23 also rotates and moves the rack and the slide bar 7 toward the retained gate. The ratchet disk 25'y also rotates and by the pawl 27 rotates the second toothed wheel 29.l The third toothed wheel 34 and the escapement wheel 36 are also thereby rotated. The

speed at which the-spring 31funwinds and' therefore the outward speed of the slide bar 7 are governed by the rocking lever 33 and the balance arm 40 and weights 41 oscillated thereby. By adjusting the weights 4l along the balance arm 40 the rate of the movement'of the slide bar 7 may be regulated. As the bar 7 moves outwardly the inclined surface 14 engages the roller 21 oi' the catch lever 20. rlhe catch lever 20 is thereby gradually elevated removing the catch 22 from engagement with the gate. The gate is then free to swing closed in the ordinary manner. Should, however, a gate tend to remain open, the engagement of the outer end 8 of the slide har 7 will. under the influence of the spring 31, start the gate on its outward movement. Should ithe desired by a person passing through the gateway to close the gate before the predetcrmined time has expired it is only necessary -to elevate the catch 22 when the gate is free.

The parts of the apparatus will resume their normal condition as before described.

What I claim is zh 1. A- gate or the like controlling device consisting 1n the combination with a selfclosing gate, of a easing, a slide bar project lng from the casing and engaged by the gate, time controlling mechanism operatively connected to the slide bar, a pivotcd catch carried by the casing and which. engages the gate, and means for controlling the catch by the movement of the slide bar.

2. A gate or the like controlling device consisting in the combination with a selfclosing gate, of a casing, a slide bar projecting from the casing, a pivoted catch carried by the casing and which is adapted to engage the gate to hold it open, means controlling the catch whereby said catch is brought quickly to a gate engaging position when the slide bar moves in one direction and whereby said catch is slowly moved to gate disengaging position when the slide bar moves in theopposite direction.

3. A gate controlling device including a resilient member, a slide bar engaged by the gate, a catch for holding the gate in open position, means operable upon a movement of the slide bar in one direction for permitting said catch to move into gate engaging position and for placing the resilient memher under strain, said resilient member tending to return the slide bar to its original position andl movethe catch to gate releasing position, and means for retarding said movement.

4. A gate 0r the like controlling device consisting in the combination with a selfclosing gate of a spring, a slide bar operated by the gate to wind the spring when moved in one direction, said bar being moved in the opposite direction by the spring when unwinding, a retaining catch for holding the gate, means on the slide bar for operating the catch to release the gate as the spring unwinds, and means for governing the unwinding speed of the spring.

5. A gate or the like controlling device consisting in the combination with a self-closing gate, of a casing, a slide bar projecting therefrom, a rack carried by the slide bar, a spring wound by the rack, va pivoted catch lever controlled by the slide bar, and an adjustable escapement means for governing the unwinding of the spring.

G. A gate or similar closure controlling device consisting in a casing, a slide bar mounted therein, rollers guiding the slide bar, a rack caried by the slide bar, said slide bar having an inclined surface, a pivoted catch lever having a roller engaging said surface, a toothed Wheel engaging the rack, a shaft rotated by the toothed wheel, a ratchet disk carried by the shaft, a pawl engaging the ratchet disk, a toothed wheel carrying the pawl and loosely mounted on the shaft, an escapement wheel, means connecting the escapement wheel with the toothed wheel, a rocking lever engaging the escapement wheel, a balance arm regulating the rocking lever, adjustable weights carried by the balance arm, a coiled spring secured at one end to the shaft, and a fixed spring casing to which the other end of the spring is secured.

7. A gate or the like controlling device including a gate retaining catch normally held in release position, means opera-ted by the gate when the gate is in eXtreme position for permitting the catch to move to gate engaging position, means operable by the said catch controlling means for accumulat ing energy and for reimparting the accumulated energyr to the catch controlling means whereby said means is actuated to move the catch to gate disengaging position, and means for controlling the speed of expenditure of the accumulated energy.

8. In combination. a closure, means for swinging the closure in one direction, a latch, closure controlling mechanism comprising motor mechanism operatively set by the closure, and means actuated by the motor mechanism for disengaging the latch to release the closure.V

9. In combination, a closure, means for swinging the closure in one direction, a latch, closure controlling mechanism com prising a motor and a reciprocating element, said reciprocating element being operated, by movement of the closure in one direction of its movement to operatively set the motor, by movement to operatively set the motor, and means actuated by the reciprocating element to release the latch to release the closure.

In testimony whereof l have hereunto affixed my signature in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

W. STUART HIGKENBOTHAM.

lVitnesses:

CEcIL W. L. SLASTREM, VICTOR J. KELsoN.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the ,Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

